True To You (Taking Chances #2) by Liwen Ho Read Free Book Online Page B

part about it?”
    Shaking her head at his pointed question, she noted, “I’m starting to think your boldness has nothing to do with me. You like asking direct questions, don’t you?”
    “I just don’t want to waste any time getting to know you. Life’s too short to dwell on small talk. I understand though if you’d rather not talk about it.”
    “No, you’re right,” she answered with the experience of someone who saw the frailty of life every day at work. She appreciated the fact that Ben seemed to live so intentionally. “Those are some wise words. You know, I may have to start writing all your quotes down, they’re so meaningful.”
    “Good to know. If I get tired one day of teaching math, I’ll think about becoming a philosopher.”
    “Or maybe a therapist,” she joked. “You seem to know how to get people to empty their guts to you.” She paused. “Wait, did I say that right?”
    “It’s spill your guts, but I’m happy to be on the receiving end, no matter how you want to do it.” Ben reached out and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “You’re cute when you get flustered, you know that?”
    Melanie doubted that was the case, but his comment made her cheeks warm. She attempted to turn his attention back to their earlier conversation. “To answer your previous question… I guess the hardest part about immigrating was leaving the people I cared about behind.”
    Her tight-lipped smile made Ben believe there was more to her story. “Family? Friends?”
    “Yes, friends. Some close ones.” She let out a deep breath, then squared her shoulders as if to add conviction to her next words. “But all the changes I went through helped me grow. There were so many things out of my control, but it was reassuring to know God was always there.”
    “I understand what you’re saying.”
    “Do you believe in anything?”
    “You mean God? Yes, I do. My parents took me and my sister to church every week, but I didn’t take my faith seriously until I went to college.” His face grew serious. “It’s a good thing I did because I don’t know how else I would have gotten through the past couple of years.”
    “What do you mean? What happened?”
    “My parents passed away in a car accident almost four years ago. I moved back home and have been taking care of my sister since then.”
    “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.” This explained why he was at the supermarket the day they met. His big brother role had turned into that of a parent. Melanie’s heart softened to know how much Ben had gone through. “That must have been so difficult for you, for both of you.”
    “It’s been a journey. But Ash has had a much harder time than me. She was only fifteen when all this happened. I was already done with college and living on my own. I had just started a teaching job down in So Cal, but moved back here as soon as I could. It was pretty rough in the beginning learning how to walk a fine line between being a brother and a parent. I’ve had a crash course on hormones, that’s for sure. Somehow I lived to tell about it.” He grinned and wiped imaginary beads of sweat from his forehead.
    Melanie couldn’t help but stare in awe at the man across from her. Ben was certainly nice to look at, but his story now made him even more attractive in her eyes. “You’re so positive despite everything you’ve been through. How do you stay so strong?”
    “Lots of prayer… and soda,” he quipped as he raised his glass, “and reminding myself to be thankful for what I have. I had two wonderful parents who raised me well and introduced me to Jesus. A kid sister who loves me. Friends who have stood by me. I have a job I love.” He paused as a goofy grin lit up his face. “The chance to meet a new friend in the supermarket aisle. Life is good. I couldn’t ask for more.”
    “Oh, but you do want more, don’t you? That’s why you have a bucket list.”
    Ben nodded his head in appreciation of Melanie’s no-nonsense